PALESTINE campaigners condemned South Wales Police today after 17 campaigners were arrested and banned from protests following demonstrations in Cardiff.

Sixteen were arrested on suspicion of violent behaviour after they protested outside Cardiff Bay police station on Monday night.

They were demanding the release of a male protester who had been detained during a mass demonstration in the city centre.

Cymru Students for Palestine said that police “assaulted” those who were “peacefully occupying the reception” at the station.

Police said that all 17 were released under police bail conditions that were applied to stop them from being in a group of more than five in a public place and they cannot communicate with each other.

In a statement released today, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said they have been “given punitive police bail conditions after spending hours in police cells.

“It would seem that the intention of the police was to single out an activist and then to intimidate those demanding his release.

“These actions will not stop our constant campaigning for a ceasefire in Gaza and justice for the Palestinians but this will also be broadened into an additional campaign for the right to protest.

“We demand that the bail conditions be dropped immediately and South Wales Police work to enable campaigners to protest for Gaza as we have been doing since October 8 2023.

“This would both save money for Welsh local authorities to use for better services and would continue Wales’ record of support for the human rights of everyone.”

The force has been contacted for comment.

Stop the War Cymru convener Dominic MacAskill condemned the “monstrous imposition” and said police should “immediately drop this bail condition.”

Plaid Cymru Senedd member Mabon ap Gwynfor said the bail conditions are “unreasonable and disproportionate.”